More breeding questions

[jultaylor1972 2]

One of my ferrets has been absolutely brilliant this season I really want to breed from her with another great worker. This spring will be her first time in season and she will be a year old on 18th April. I've read loads about breeding and am aware of the pro's and cons to it -I have seriously thought it through and due to all the permission I've now got I need really good workers and I've now got a big enough set up to house more ferrets. The thing is - it doesn't say in any of the books Ive read how old they should/ shouldn't be when you breed from them? Now, I don't want to go and risk losing her by being impatient and breeding her in her first season if its too dangerous, I can and will wait until next year and will use a vasectomised hob or the jill jab if necessary. So, is it safe or not? Thanks all.

[gnipper 6,900]

Their are loads of kits bred by jills in their first season without problems every year, probably the majority of the ones you see advertised

[jultaylor1972 2]

Their are loads of kits bred by jills in their first season without problems every year, probably the majority of the ones you see advertised

Thanks for your reply gnipper, don't get me wrong - I will be advertising some of them free to good working homes as Im not planning on doing this for money, I will be keeping most of them myself for my own needs and am planning on keeping a hob that will eventually be vasectomised to bring my jills out of season. I just need to make sure i'm not putting my best worker at risk by being impatient

[Kay 3,709]

I dont think its common for the jill to have problems , but there can be as i found out last year they can & do sometimes have problems when Gloria had the dead kit inside her, but i went with my gut reaction & it was sorted very quickly

 

I really think if you weigh it up its more likely that your jill will have a safe & sucessfull pregnancy & birth, Jule just go with your gut reaction & have a think about it , you know your ferrets better than anyone else

[Guest basil46]

I`ve never had any problems, dead kits can happen at any time. (with respect kay) I say go for it. basil.

[johnnyboy28 1]

I dont think you can earn any money from breeding ferrets anyway jultaylor1972

what with food and time you have to put in.

The Jill will be ok breeding in her 1st year.If she was in the wild it would happen every time she came in.

[Kay 3,709]

I`ve never had any problems, dead kits can happen at any time. (with respect kay) I say go for it. basil.

 

Hi Basil i didnt mean any kits in the litter dying after birth, this jill had a dead kit she didnt give birth to inside her, she had only had 1 live kit & had been feeding it a good 12 hours & not acting out of the ordinary, it was the fact she was still quite big that made me feel something wasnt right,

 

So after a call to the vets it was confirmed she had a dead one inside her & then she passed it at home after an injection from the vets

[olliedakennard 0]

Ferrets are sexually mature at 6 months, so dont be afraid i am breeding my jill this season aswell. So all the best ollie.

[foyrious 13]

ive given all of mine away except 2 pairs. one pair are quite mature (18 months), but one pair are only about 11 months old.. and theyre related, but ive got no choice as my other hob is massive and dont want to put my best jill across him... age is no problem though.

[jultaylor1972 2]

I've just had confirmation that I can use a hob from excellent working stock to serve my jill! Im well chuffed. For a week that started off awful its ended really well for a change.